Posted by By DENNIS MERNYI, Abuja on
Less than 48 hours after they were wisked away, the 11 Indian workers and a Nigerian baby kidnapped on Tuesday at the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited were yesterday released by their abductors.
Less than 48 hours after they were wisked away, the 11 Indian workers and a Nigerian baby kidnapped on Tuesday at the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited were yesterday released by their abductors.
Their release late yesterday, Daily Sun gathered was with the intervention of the paramount ruler in the area, the Ohionoyi of Ebira land, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim as confirmed by the President, Business Development of GIL, Mr. Sunil Manwati, in a telephone chat in Abuja yesterday.
His words: 'I am happy to inform that all the 11 Indians that were siezed and the little child have all been released."
'The workers have gone back to work and the place is gradually assuming its normal peaceful nature,
'We are still not officially aware about the people that carried out this act, but I believe that the police will be carrying out a full investigation into the matter. But I know that nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident," he said.
Also, sources at the Ajaoukuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) revealed that the incident may have been triggered by communication break down between the team negotiating on behalf of workers that were meeting with management of ASCL and the Ministry of Steel and Solid Mineral Development, who went into a protracted meeting that started on Monday morning and went late into the night.
'When it was night and nothing was heard about the outcome last Monday," the source said, 'ASCL became very tense," he added.
'Some of the workers felt that the unions had sold out, this prompted a group to organise the kidnap but it turned out to be mistake," the sosurce added.